Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Governance – EC Library Guide: Selected publications
Selected EU publications
- Adopt AI study – Final study report
European Commission, Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (CNECT), 2024.
A study commissioned by the European Commission highlights the significant potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve public sector services across the EU. The report emphasizes that AI can enhance citizen-government interactions, boost analytical capabilities, and increase efficiency in key areas such as healthcare, mobility, e-Government, and education. These sectors are identified as among the most ready for large-scale AI deployment, with applications ranging from autonomous vehicles and smart traffic systems to AI-driven healthcare solutions and education technologies.
However, the study also outlines several challenges hindering AI uptake in the public sector. These include complex public procurement processes, difficulties in data management, a lack of regulatory clarity, and concerns about bias in AI decision-making. In response, the report provides a series of policy recommendations aimed at accelerating AI adoption. These include increasing funding and resources for AI in public services, ensuring transparency and accountability in AI systems, promoting cross-border data sharing, and aligning industry and public sector expectations. The European Commission is advised to create a clear regulatory framework for AI, prioritise long-term implementation, and foster human-centric, trustworthy AI solutions. By addressing these challenges, the EU aims to position itself as a global leader in the development of trustworthy and sustainable AI technologies for the public sector.
- Adoption of AI, blockchain and other emerging technologies within the European public sector – A public sector Tech Watch report
European Commission: Directorate-General for Digital Services, Brizuela, A., Montino, C., Galasso, G., Polli, G. et al., Adoption of AI, blockchain and other emerging technologies within the European public sector – A public sector Tech Watch report, Publications Office of the European Union, 2024.
This report provides an overview and analysis of the adoption status of Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and other emerging technologies such as Augmented and Virtual reality, Virtual Worlds and Quantum computing, within the European public sector. Conducted under the Public Sector Tech Watch (PSTW) observatory, managed by the Directorate-General for Digital Services (DG DIGIT) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, the study aims to support European policymakers and researchers in steering and studying digital transformation in the European public sector.
The analysis is based on a database comprising a total of 1,617 cases (at the time of writing this report) of innovative solutions piloted and implemented across European public administrations. Research findings indicate that emerging technologies are being adopted across both public service delivery and administrative efficiency in various government functions, mainly those regarding general public services, economic affairs, public order and health departments. Moreover, the national and local administrations pilot or implement most cases (80%), and services personalisation, information analysis processes and prediction and planning are the most common applications. Based on these findings, the report provides recommendations to boost the technologies’ potential to foster the effective adoption of these technologies by moving a more theoretical view to a more systematic analysis based on empirical evidence.
- AI watch, beyond pilots – Sustainable implementation of AI in public services
European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Tangi, L., Molinari, F., et al. Publications Office, 2021
The AI watch is the author of a large number of publications of the usage of AI (in the public sector). All of them can be retrieved from the Office of Publications Luxembourg website. This document was selected in the framework of this libguide. It first introduces the concept of AI appropriation in government, seen as a sequence of two logically distinct phases, respectively named adoption and implementation of related technologies in public services and processes. Then, it analyses the situation of AI governance in the US and China and contrasts it to an emerging, truly European model, rooted in a systemic vision and with an emphasis on the revitalised role of the member states in the EU integration process,
Next, it points out some critical challenges to AI implementation in the EU public sector, including: the generation of a critical mass of public investments, the availability of widely shared and suitable datasets, the improvement of AI literacy and skills in the involved staff, and the threats associated with the legitimacy of decisions taken by AI algorithms alone. Finally, it draws a set of common actions for EU decision-makers willing to undertake the systemic approach to AI governance through a more advanced equilibrium between AI promotion and regulation. It is followed by three main recommendations.
- Boosting digital governments with interoperability – Early-career researchers paving the way ahead
European Commission: Joint Research Centre, Rodriguez Müller, A. and Schade, S., Boosting digital governments with interoperability – Early-career researchers paving the way ahead, Rodriguez Müller, A.(editor) and Schade, S.(editor), Publications Office of the European Union, 2024.
These are the proceedings from the workshop ‘Boosting digital governments with interoperability: early-career researchers paving the way ahead’ held on 26 June 2024 as part of the SEMIC 2024 pre-conference activities. The workshop was co-organised by the ‘FreshMinds’ initiative of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, Digital Flanders, and the Interoperable Europe Academy. It aimed to explore the development, sharing and reuse of interoperability solutions, services and products under the Interoperable Europe Act. The workshop hosted participants from various EU Member States and associated countries – bringing together early-career researchers and experts – to discuss the current state of interoperability in digital government.
The event featured a series of presentations and discussions that delved into the current state of interoperability in digital government, ongoing research projects, and future directions for collaboration and innovation. Key topics included blockchain applications in waste management, development of smart living environments for ageing societies, business platform models for citizen services, governance of emergency management interoperability, and balancing data sharing with data protection in the context of semantic interoperability. The collaborative spirit and innovative contributions of early-career researchers were particularly emphasised, offering fresh perspectives on and potential solutions to the complex challenges in this domain. This report encapsulates the essence of the workshop, underlining the importance of interoperability in improving digital government services across the EU and setting the stage for future research and development initiatives.
- Controlling the environment with artificial intelligence risks intensifying social inequalities and colonization
Campo Ruiz, I., [version 1; peer review: 1 approved with reservations], Open Research Europe, 2024.
The author explores the benefits and shortcomings of including Artificial Intelligence (AI) in environmental governance and remaining within planetary boundaries. AI for the environment should be used with other tools and knowledge such as humanistic, social, and ethical values.
AI systems can help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, ocean acidification, and chemical pollution, safeguard biodiversity, improve water use in agriculture, support vulnerable societies, and combat environmental crimes. AI can efficiently analyze data, monitor, predict and manage natural resources. AI systems does not only describe nature but also active shape by transforming agriculture, fishery, infrastructure, and construction practices.
Nevertheless, AI systems enable novel paths for environmental control. The developers from these algorithms commonly originate from prosperous nations, whereas the impact of these algorithms is global. Hence, people with lesser resources and agency are left at a disadvantage to advocate for their interests. These inequalities can result in a new way of colonizing, where wealthier individuals impose their agendas on the rest of the global population.
The impact of AI systems on environmental governance is of an unprecedented scale. Ideally, AI systems should adhere to internationally agreed ethical and legal principles.
- Governing data and artificial intelligence for all – Models for sustainable and just data governance
European Parliament, Directorate-General for Parliamentary Research Services, Lopez Solano, J., Martin, A., et al., European Parliament, 2022.
With a particular focus on artificial intelligence (AI), this study identifies and examines policy options for the EU's data governance framework that align with a data justice perspective
- GovTech – Influencing factors, common requirements and recommendations – Supporting the development of cross-border, interoperable GovTech practices in the European landscape
European Commission: Joint Research Centre, Manzoni, M., Niehaves, B. and Klassen, G., GovTech – Influencing factors, common requirements and recommendations – Supporting the development of cross-border, interoperable GovTech practices in the European landscape, Manzoni, M.(editor), Publications Office of the European Union, 2024.
Digital transformation is essential for modern, effective and user's centric public administrations. Within public sector operations, Public Procurement is the most common way for public administrations to acquire innovative digital solutions if not developed in-house. In this important area that accounts for 14% of the GDP in Europe, there is a need to identify and understand the influencing factors affecting the uptake of innovative digital solutions designed for and adopted by public administrations specifically through GovTech practices to support a successful digital transition and modernisation of the public sector in Europe.
- Horizon Europe, Research & innovation reshaping democracies
European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Horizon Europe, Publications Office of the European Union, 2023.
Research on the past and present challenges and tensions in democracy can help to better understand and strengthen democracy, its resilience and stability. It will foster democracy’s further development with a view to enhancing representation, participation, openness, pluralism, tolerance, the effectiveness of public policy, non-discrimination, civic engagement, the protection of fundamental rights and the rule of law. These reflect the European Union’s values as defined in Article 2 of the EU Treaty. This booklet gives an overview of the projects that were selected for funding under the Horizon Europe 2022 call “Reshaping democracies” (HORIZON-CL2- 2022-DEMOCRACY-01 and 02). (chapter 2 provides examples on projects dealing with AI)
- Innovative policymaking in a complex world – Science, foresight and evaluation for policymaking and democracy
European Commission, Joint Research Centre. Publications Office of the European Union, 2023.
The portfolio aims to: • provide guidance to different levels of governance in the EU on how to make decisions with the greatest impact using the best evidence and methods available; • strengthen European democracies by providing science, knowledge, and tools to improve and innovate policymaking.
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- Public report on the roadmap for the scale-up of EU AI-powered — DT D05.04
Noupadja, N., Mulquin, M., Carvalho, F., et al., European Commission, 2023.
The European Union (EU)’s strategic focus on advancing the digital transformation of smart cities and communities giving rise to a wide ecosystem of initiatives, not only contributing to Europe’s digital transition but also intertwined with the green transition under the European Green Deal umbrella. This document is a formal deliverable of the “CNECT/2022/OP/0098 - Procurement of the Technical Specifications for the Local Digital Twins (LDTs) Toolbox” project. The purpose of this deliverable is to bring forward a proposal for a high-level roadmap for the LDT Toolbox’s geographical deployment, technical scale-up, and evolution considering: the complexity of the wider ecosystem of initiatives aiming to advance the digital transformation of smart cities and communities, and the deployment of AI enabled Digital Twins; and the existing disparities of European cities and communities both in terms of overall digital maturity, and regarding the ambition levels of their LDTs.
- Trustworthy artificial intelligence for a fair and democratic Europe
European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Publications Office of the European Union, 2023.
The portfolio aims to: • provide scientific and technical support to horizontal European Union policies on artificial intelligence (AI) such as the AI Act, and their sectorial applications in domains such as transport, healthcare, education or science; • host the European Centre for Algorithmic Transparency, providing technical assistance and carrying out scientific research and foresight to support the implementation of the Digital Services Act; • advance frontier research on trustworthy artificial intelligence, to further interdisciplinary knowledge and foresight on the challenges brought by new AI developments such as foundation models. (leaflet)
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- Last Updated: Jun 4, 2025 8:52 AM
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